Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible.

I'd like to thank the publisher HarperCollins and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

SUN OF BLOOD AND RUIN is a historical fantasy weaving Mesoamerican mythology into an adventure set in the 16th century of modern day Mexico.

It's a packed adventure tale. It's quite short for adult fantasy I felt but a lot happens - battles, chases, and many explosions. But it didn't feel rushed, the pacing just right to get between events without slowing down but giving time for character development and just enough time to breathe.

I know very little about the history of this region, so I did appreciate a few little references to what was happening in Europe at the same time to help me place this in my mental framework of 16th century history. I also appreciated the note at the start about language usage to help bolster my understanding of the context this is happening in. I really like it when books delve into periods I know little about as it's an introduction to a new period and region.

It is apparently a gender-swapped retelling of the Mask of Zorro. I have not read that classic, so I didn't catch any references or plot points. That didn't affect my enjoyment, though. It felt like an adventure with masked outlaw living a double life, and full of South American mythology, threats both human and monstrous for Leonora to battle.

It is the first book in a duology but read very much like a standalone, which was a nice surprise. No big cliff-hanger as is common in duologies (but getting less so in debut duologies - I do like big cliff hanger endings for the emotional shock when pulled off right, but sometimes I don't want to wait for the finale so a more rounded ending solves that problem.)

Sun of Blood and Ruin is a breathtaking blend of history, fantasy, and adventure. Mariely Lares reimagines the legend of Zorro in a richly detailed world inspired by 17th-century Mexico, delivering a fresh and exhilarating take on the classic hero.

The world-building is immersive, filled with magic, political intrigue, and cultural depth. The protagonist is fierce and compelling, and the action-packed plot keeps the story moving at a gripping pace. While some moments felt a bit dense, the overall experience is thrilling and deeply rewarding.

A must-read for fans of historical fantasy and legendary reimaginings!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. For more book reviews, please check out @blondesbooknook

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get to it before it was archived but will review in full when I do.

3.5 Stars, rounded to 4.

This was such an interesting book, I often find Historical Fantasy difficult to read, but this book was not tarred with that brush for me. Bursting with Mexican Mythology I was invested throughout!

The time line at times was a little difficult to navigate to begin with, we were thrust back and forth a little, but it did settle down.

The world building in this is so well thought out and actually much more intricate than I thought it would be, I feel like if the characters were as developed as the world building then this could have been a solid favourite read!

I tried reading this book multiple times, and upon finally finishing it, I found myself disappointed. The premise of a gender-bent Zorro retelling, with fantasy elements really drew me in, however I found the execution lackluster. With poor pacing and characters that didn't feel particularly fleshed out, I really wanted more from this book.

3 ⭐️ As it’s the author’s debut but I felt the story wasn’t that great. Would still recommend in giving this a go for fantasy fans.

Obsessed with this cover.

In sixteenth-century New Spain, Pantera, a masked warrior, wields magic and swordsmanship against Spanish tyranny, concealing her true identity as Lady Leonora de Las Casas Tlazohtzin, promised to the heir of the Spanish throne. While Leonora maintains a facade of respectability and disinterest in court affairs, she secretly embraces her alter ego's destiny. Gifted with invincibility by her magical heritage, she faces a choice when an ancient prophecy threatens destruction: surrender or fight. Tempted by the promise of a longer life, she ultimately embraces her true self, determined to defy destiny and fulfill her legendary purpose.

Sun of Blood and Ruin left me conflicted. While I wasn't initially impressed with some of the female character portrayals and found certain plot points problematic, I appreciated that some issues were resolved by the end. However, I felt that the secondary characters lacked depth, which made it hard to invest in their stories. On the bright side, the books setting in sixteenth-century New Spain provided a refreshing change from typical fantasy settings, and its exploration of indigenous mythology and the impact of Spanish conquest was an absolute highlight. Our MC, Leonora, navigating her mixed heritage and fighting for her people's rights, was my fave part because I always love an FMC that goes on a journey of self-discovery. Despite its flaws, Sun of Blood and Ruin sheds light on a lesser-explored historical period and culture within the fantasy genre.

A solid 3-star.

I tried to read this book more then once. As a mood reader I kept picking it up and would get so far and put it back down again and tell myself I would pick it up later.

I may one day actually get further than the first few chapters but I think it's safe to say I won't be finishing this book in its entirety. The premises sounds amazing and I think the characters from what I read were very interesting.

I knew this was a fairy loot pick I wanted to love it.

It’s not often I have something negative to say about a book (you may have noticed), because I really try to choose books that I know I’ll enjoy. After all, who wants to read something they don’t enjoy? I did have high hopes that Sun of Blood and Ruin would be so much more. I was excited that this book was using Mesoamerican mythology and a bit of Mexican history, something I know nothing about.

I remember watching Zoro as a child, and this book felt like that in places. Except Pantera is female - she is a ‘master’ swords-person, a magician and a shapeshifter. So far, so good. Leonora de Las Casas Tlazohtzin is her alter-ego (or is it the other way round? Im never sure which way round it should be) - it’s a great disguise. She is the sister of the regent of New Spain, and promised to the Spanish Prince - who will ever guess that she’s really Pantera?

What didn’t quite gel with me was the way the story was put together. It didn’t feel like a cohesive novel, more like exciting shorts that had been joined together. I think if I’d read this as a graphic novel or a series of short stories, I would have enjoyed it so much more. The second half of the novel is far better than the first half, I will say that.

Perhaps I’m not the right audience for this book? I do like this genre though, and I do read a fair bit of YA Fantasy, so I’m really not so sure it’s that. It looks as though there will be a follow up, and I’d be interested to see if the style is in any way improved and where the story is going next - so this book is definitely a “like” from me.

This was gorgeous but had the opportunity to be extraordinary.

I really want to read outside the usual settings of the UK, USA, or a fantasy, so was really excited about the idea of 16th Century South America but really struggled with the setting in conjunction with the way that the characters spoke.

I loved the mythology and folklore in this book. It was so interesting and I loved how it was woven into the story especially with the discussions on colonisation and erasure of native cultures. The story was fast paced and action packed and had lots of interesting characters.

3.5 stars (rounded up)

Pitched as a gender-bent Zorro reimagining set in an alternative historical Mexico, Sun of Blood and Ruin is a rich, exciting, and lavish story that feels like a true breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre.

What initially drew me to this book was its unique world building, as this is inspired by a historical time period and culture/mythology that I am personally quite unfamiliar with. And I have to say, Lares absolutely delivered! This rich and sumptuous world just came to life before my eyes, and it is filled to the brim with lore, culture, myths, legends, and just so much heart.

I deeply respect the author for not holding back on the authentic Mexican influences to make this story more palatable for a western audience. Yes, it was sometimes quite overwhelming to stumble upon all the unfamiliar terms, and there were definitely some clunky infodumps, but I can’t say I was very bothered by it. In fact, I was so entranced by this world that I was gobbling up all the pieces of history, lore, magic, religion, and political scheming, which created a very captivating and immersive experience for me.

And while this is a very enjoyable, fun, and exciting story on the surface, it also tackles heavy topics that added deepers layers which I really appreciated. As this is set a generation after Cortes’ invasion in Mexico, the themes of colonisation, genocide, sexism, and female oppression are very prominent in the narrative and handled with a lot of care.

Lares just does a really good job of balancing the dark with the light, and I personally loved seeing so many fierce women fighting the patriarchy every chance they got. This story contains some really powerful female friendships and some surprisingly heartwarming unlikely alliances, which just gave this story so much heart. I am not going to sit here and pretend that this story features the most three-dimensional and emotionally complex characters I have ever read about, but I think they served their purpose in the story and I enjoyed following them on their tumultuous journeys.

Now, I do have to say that this book almost feels like two stories in one, with a big shift in the narrative occurring around the halfway mark. I personally enjoyed the more slow-burn and intimate first half of this book more, as it focused more on the court intrigue, interpersonal drama, and fun vigilante aspects of the story that I was promised. Later on, the scope of the world and story expands rapidly, and it becomes a bit of an odd mix of mythological and military fantasy, with a sudden unexpected dash of romance thrown in.

Still, I was quite engaged the entire way through, and I am positively intrigued by all the revelations that were presented at the end of this whirlwind of a story. If you are in the mood for a fast-paced fantasy that is filled to the brim with intriguing Mexican history, rich Mesoamerican mythology, fierce women, dangerous prophecies, shapeshifters, enigmatic meddling gods, and a whole lot of magical mayhem, then you have to check out Sun of Blood and Ruin!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a good debut. However, it did feel like a debut due to the mix of eclectic ideas for this book that was a bit more than the narrative could muster.
The story is a blend of gender-bender Zorro, with its historical background of the Spanish-Mexican war and some Mesoamerican mythology and magic. In theory this sounds like a novel and wonderful plot line that brings a breath of fresh air to the genre. Unfortunately, what ends up happening is that all those aspects dilute each other and we only get a glimpse of each at a certain point in the book, with the beginning being the Zorro retelling, the middle becoming a historical fiction with its political intrigue and the end turns into a full blown fantasy with mythical and magical everywhere. It just didn’t feel like any of the elements were properly incorporated throughout even if individually each part was interesting and engaging.

I’m also not entirely sure I can see who the target audience is. If you’re already a fan of Zorro and know the tiniest bit about the Spanish-Mexican wars, then this book felt like it was over-explaining every single detail that in my opinion was pretty obvious or that could have been deducted from the narrative without holding the reader’s hand along the way. Now, if this was a bit miss-marketed and should have been shelved as YA then I would have understood, because the main protagonist is only 18 and is quite naive in certain ways so I would have understood more explaining necessary. But then the lore is completely glossed over as if everyone already knows about Mexican mythology which is a wild assumption to make in my opinion. I know close to nothing on Mesoamerican mythology and I don’t think it can be said that it is common knowledge anywhere, so I wish there was a bit more of a deep dive into it. I know there is a glossary but that’s simply not enough and gets the reader out of the story to go back and forth to figure out what’s happening.

Characters could have been a bit more nuanced. I didn’t really see relationships developing so I was a bit surprised by sudden romance that really felt like a teenager’s spike in hormones rather than genuine feelings.

Overall, the idea is great and parts of it are really entertaining. I did read it in one day so it isn’t bad at all. It just had potential to be better on quite a few levels and it does feel like a debut because of that. The author wanted to chuck in all the ideas in one book and it might have been a bit too ambitious. The story is different and the backdrop is also something that we don’t see usually in fantasy so would still recommend if you’re looking for fantasy but want a totally different setting.

“This has always been my struggle. Neither side accepts me fully. I’m tired of the separation between my two halves, the border that divides both worlds, assimilating one side while going back to the other, speaking the language of the invader and the language of the invaded, back and forth until I become lost somewhere in between.”

My thanks to HarperVoyager for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Sun of Blood and Ruin’ by Mariely Lares.

I was drawn to this historical fantasy by its stunning cover and premise of a combination of Mexican history and Mesoamerican mythology.

Leonora de Las Casas Tlazohtzin is the daughter of the Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico) and a native woman and so is very much caught between two worlds. While she is the jewel of this 16th Century court and promised to the heir to the Spanish throne, she has another name: Pantera the masked vigilante, a shapeshifting sorceress with a blade. No one suspects that Leonora and Pantera are one and the same. Yet there is an ancient prophecy that threatens her future. In her quest to unravel its meaning she has both allies and adversaries. No further details to avoid spoilers.

I had mixed reactions to this novel and found the first part somewhat patchy in terms of pacing, though this improved as the story progressed. My biggest issue was that I found very little sense of the period setting.

Given that this novel is set in the 16th Century, the way that its characters speak and act felt way too modern. I usually find this kind of anachronistic language and behaviour to be more common in Teen and YA fiction. Indeed, I felt that ‘Sun of Blood and Ruin’ read very young although marketed for adult readers.

However, I did enjoy the exploration of the clash of cultures following the fall of the empire of Montezuma II by the conquistadors and the inclusion of Mesoamerican mythology; especially that linked to animals such as the jaguar and the shapeshifting lore. As noted above I did feel that after a hesitant start, that the novel did improve and I felt more engaged.

Overall, while I found ‘Sun of Blood and Ruin’ something of a mixed bag, I still felt that it held promise and likely will read Book 2 when it is published.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

arc review

I’m enjoying the surge in southern American fantasy novels and this doesn’t disappoint.
The mythology is imaginative and intriguing, it’s nice to have something slightly different!
The second half is when this book really starts to come alive and draws you into the pages!

It wasn't bad... but it was... kinda bad. I wish the characters were more fleshed out and not in an aesthetically pleasing way. I would have also preferred if the pacing was consistent and not as unstable as it was.

Taking us back to 16th century Mexico during the Spanish colonization, the story follows Leonora - Fiance to the Spanish Heir and Zorro inspired vigilante.

Although i wanted to love this book and enjoyed the bones of the story, the pacing was a little slow and i found the romance to be bland. I did enjoy the dynamic between the two main protagonists but they could have been fleshed out a little more. The story itself had a really interesting concept of mythology within 16th century Mexico, this is the first book I've read during this time period so i did find it a little hard to keep up but it was enjoyable.

Overall, this was a good read and I'm looking forward to seeing where the next installment takes us.

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was freaking EPIC. I went into this with not many expectations and it blew me away. Right from the start we jumped straight in and it never let up. I was originally going to wait for the audio for the sake of the pronunciation and the ease of the names of places, but I decided to go for it and I'm happy I did! Yes, I did end up skimming over the names because of how unnatural they were to keep consistently concentrating on spelling out in my head. It was taking me out of the story. But it was an incredible book, I need book 2.
There's energy magic that comes from the body, plus a shape-shifting panther vigilante and sorcerers with a 1500s Spain setting. What more could you ask for. So rich in setting and atmosphere!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this advanced copy.

This book was so good. I love Mexico representations of this book. The magic system was solid and enchanting. Loved this book!